3GSM: LG Says Apple Nicked iPhone Idea From Them

Just in time for the launch of their Prada phone in Barecelona, LG’s head of mobile handset Research and Development has said that the company believes that Apple copied the iPhone concept from LG’s Prada phone.

"We consider that Apple copycat [the] Prada phone after the design was unveiled when it was presented in the iF Design Award and won the prize in September 2006," said Mr. Woo-Young Kwak.

Apple has been accused of copying its rivals homework in the past, with Creative claiming - and later suing Apple over allegations - that the company copied Creative’s patented interface design and scroll wheel for its iPod.

As to whether or not Apple is guilty of some foul play in this case, I’d give them the benefit of the doubt - at 3GSM everyone and their granny’s dog is rolling out an iPhone lookalike, and the idea of touch screen phones is now becoming old hat. LG will get a little bit of a PR boost out of these claims, but I’d be surprised if they brought the claims to court... unless, of course, the Prada phone were to be launched around the same time as the iPhone.

Gizmodo with the pretty picture and more Prada phone details.